Steam separator and superheater



Feb. 16, 1937. w. KISLING 2 STEAM SEPARATOR AND SUPERHEATER Filed Feb. s, 1955 Patented Feb. 16, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 11 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in steam separators or devices for extracting the suspended water from. steam for use wherever a very dry steam is needed.

The main object of my invention is'to provide a separator or device which will positively extract or separate all suspended particles of moisture or water from ordinary steam and which will then superheat the dry steam as it leaves the separator, the result being that the steam as it leaves the separator is extremely hot and dry and in best condition for use.

Another object is to provide a device of this kind in which the steam entering the device is carried first to the highest point therein and there discharged so that water and moisture particles may run back down and escape from the bottom of the device, the dry steam. being then picked up from a medial point of the device under 20 control of an exteriorly arranged valve, carried down near the bottom and then back up through a spiral super-heating coil of tubing and finally drawn off from the extreme upper end of the device. 7

Another object is to provide a device of this nature in which the steam as it leaves the separator is super-heated by the steam circulating around the super-heating coil carrying the discharging steam and in which the discharge control valve is so located that no steam stands and condenses in the discharge tubing and superheating coil when the valve is closed with the thus resulting freedom from the formation of wet steam when the valve is first opened.

A further object is to provide a device of this kind in a simple, durable, inexpensive and compact form.

With these and other objects in view the invention resides in the novel construction and arrangement of parts as hereinafter fully set forth and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the invention including such exterior fittings as a steam trap and steam inlet and discharge pipes.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical and medial section through the device with a portion of the sloping discharge casing broken off.

Figure 3 is a similar sectional view through the upper end portion of the discharge casing.

Figure 4 is a horizontal cross section along the line 44 in Figure 2.

Referring now with more particularity to the drawing my invention comprises an elongated housing designated generally at 5, of any desired and suitable shape, size and construction and here shown as being generally cylindrical with its upper end 6 closed and lower end i open and flanged at 8 to receive the removable bottom cap 9. Said cap 9 is complementally flanged at I and bolts H hold the assembly together with a suitable gasket (not shown) between the flanges if necessary. Preferably, but not necessarily, the cap 9 slopes downwardly and centrally as at I2 to a tapped opening l3 in which a water discharge pipe I4 is threaded.

An elongated cylindrical discharge casing or pipe i is threaded in a tapped opening IS in an angularly disposed boss ll formed on the closed end 6 of the housing whereby said casing extends upwardly and inclines outward at an angle to the vertical axis of the housing 5 and communicates with the interior thereof. At the upper end the casing I5 is tapped at 18 and a plug [9 is screwed therein. This pipe l5 forms in effect a reduced tubular extension of the main housing 5 and may be so termed.

Near the lower end of the housing 5 the wall 20 thereof has a tapped opening 2| in which a steam inlet pipe 22 is threaded and by a suitable conventional coupling 23 a length of steam inlet line or tubing 24 is attached and communicates with the inlet pipe 22. This tubing 24 carrying the wet or ordinary steam entering through the pipe 22 extends inward at 25 and then upwardly at 26 through the housing 5 and casing l5 to a point adjacent the upper end of the latter where the tubing terminates in the open end 21.

At points spaced peripherally around the housing wall 20 from the aforesaid opening 2| similar tapped openings 28 and 29 are formed, these openings being vertically aligned and spaced to occur near the upper and lower ends of the housing 5 as shown. These two openings 28 and 29 are joined by an exteriorly arranged valve line or pipe 39 mounted by conventional couplings 3| and nipples 32 and carrying any suitable and desired form of shut-off valve 33 arranged to shut-ofi connection and passage between the said openings. At the lower end of the valve line a conventional coupling 3d connects a steam discharge line or tubing 35 coiled up into a spiral super-heating coil 36 arranged concentrically in the housing 5 and extending from about the level of the lower opening 29 up to the upper end of the housing as shown. From this upper end 31 of the coil 36 a straight length 38 of the tube 35 leads up through the casing I5 and by a suitable conventional coupling or connection 39 in the plug [9 communicates with a discharge or service line, tube or pipe 40 by which steam is carried off to the work. The upwardly extending length 25 of the steam inlet tubing 24 may pass either alongside the super-heating coil 36 as shown or centrally through and within the coil as desired.

Now in use wet steam or steam of ordinary nature and density is fed into the device through the pipe 22 and flows up through the inlet line or tubing 24 and emerges at the open upper end 21 thereof near the highest point of the device as a whole. Any suspended particles of water in the steam may then run back down and escape through the pipe l4 and into a steam trap 4| and thence to any suitable receiving means and any further condensate in the device will take the same path. The interior of the housing 5 and-casing l5 are thus filled with steam at all times. Now to draw off steam for use the valve 33 is opened and steam enters the upper end of the valve line 30 through the opening 28, passes down through the line and valve and enters the steam discharge tubing 35 passing up through the coil 36 and the upward extension 38 and emerging finally through the line at which leads it off to the work. It will be evident that since the steam is picked up at only one point and that near the top of the housing 5 that none of the water or condensate near the lower end of the housing can enter the steam line leading out from the device. In addition, the resistance to flow of the steam through the coil is such that by the time the same approaches the outlet end of the coil it is expanded to the extent that the steam surrounding the coil superheats the steam during the remainder of its travel through the coil. This results in a very dry and hot steam as will be readily evident. This superheating function is furthered by the relatively confined space around the discharge ends of both the steam lines formed by the relatively small diameter of the casing 15.

As the valve 33 is closed the flow of steam through the coil 36 is of course at once cut ofi but since this valve is located near the starting point of the steam discharge line no steam will remain in the coil to condense and form water therein and to cause the ejection of moist steam when the valve is first opened again. This is an important and advantageous feature. The valve 33 may of course be any suitable type and arranged for manual, mechanical or electro-magnetic control as desired. The size of the device as a whole may be varied according to the capacity necessary for the work at each installation.

While I have herein set forth a certain preferred embodiment of my invention, it is understood that I may vary from the same in minor structural details, so as best to construct a practical device for the purpose intended, not departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a steam separator, an elongated housing, a steam inlet line entering the housing adjacent its lower end and terminating adjacent the upper end, and a steam discharge line communicating with the housing medially and then leading down near the lower end and back up through the housing through the upper end thereof.

2. In a steam separator, an elongated housing, a steam inlet line entering the housing adjacent its lower end and terminating adjacent the upper end, and a steam discharge line communicating with the housing medially and then leading down near the lower end and back up through the housing through the upper end thereof, and a superheating coil formed in the steam discharge line within the housing.

3. In a. steam separator, an elongated housing having a waste opening in its bottom, a steam trap connected with said opening, a steam inlet line leading into the housing adjacent its lower end and passing upward and opening within the upper end, a valve line arranged exteriorly of the housing and communicating with the same near the upper end thereof and passing through the housing near the bottom thereof, a valve in the said valve line, and a steam discharge tube communicating with the lower end of the valve line and leading upward within the housing and outward through the upper end thereof.

4. In a steam separator, an elongated housing having a waste opening in its bottom, a steam trap connected with said opening, a steam inlet line leading into the housing adjacent its lower end and passing upward and opening within the upper end, a valve line arranged exteriorly of the housing and communicating with the same near the upper end thereof and passing through the housing near the bottom thereof, a valve in the said valve line, and a steam discharge tube communicating with the lower end'of the valve line and leading upward within the housing and outward through the upper end thereof, the said steam discharge tube being formed into a spiral super-heating coil within the housing.

5. In a steam separator, an elongated housing including a reduced angularly and upwardly projected tubular extension, the said housing having a waste opening in its lower end, a steam trap connected with the waste opening, a steam inlet line leading in through the lower portion of the housing and extending upwardly therein to open adjacent the upper end of the said extension, an exterior valve line communicating withthe housing adjacent the upper end thereof and passing through the housing near the bottom thereof, a shut-off valve in the said valve line, a superheating coil within the housing communicating at its lower end with the lower end of the valve line, and a steam discharge line leading from the upper end of the coil up through the upper end of the housing extension alongside the steam inlet line therein.

6. In a steam separator, an elongated housin having a waste opening in its lower end, a steam trap connected to the said waste opening, the said housing having also an opening in its upper end formed at an angle to the vertical axis of the housing, an elongated pipe mounted in the said opening and extending angularly upward from the housing and communicating therewith, the upper end of the pipe being closed, a steam inlet line leading into the housing adjacent its lower end and extending upward through the housing and pipe and opening near the closed end of the latter, a valve line arranged exteriorly of the housing and communicating with the housing near the upper end thereofand passing through the housing near the bottom thereof, a shut-01f valve in the said valve line, and a steam discharge tube connected with the lower end of the valve line and leading up through the housing and pipe and out through the upper end of the latter.

7. In a steam separator, an elongated housing having a waste opening in its lower end, a steam trap connected to the said waste opening, the said housing having also an opening in its upper end formed at an angle to the vertical axis of the housing, an elongated pipe mounted in the said opening and extending angularly upward from the housing and communicating therewith, the upper end of the pipe being closed, a steam inlet line leading into the. housing adjacent its lower end and extending upward through the housing and pipe and opening near the closed end of the latter, a valve line arranged exteriorly of the housing and communicating with the housing near the upper end thereof and passing through the housing near the bottom thereof, a shut-off valve in the said valve line, and a steam discharge tube connected with the lower end of the valve line and leading up through the housing and pipe and out through the upper end of the latter, the said discharge line being formed into a spiral super-heating coil within the housing.

8. In a steam separator, a vertically elongated housing having an upward angularly projected extension, a steam inlet line leading up through the housing and opening near the upper extremity of said extension, and a steam discharge line adapted to pick up steam from a medial point in the housing lead it back down and thence upwardly through the housing and out through the extension alongside the open end of the steam inlet line.

9. In a steam separator, a vertically elongated housing having an upward angularly projected extension, a steam inlet line leading up through the housing and opening near the upper extremity of said extension, and a steam discharge line adapted to pick up steam from a medial point in the housing lead it back down and thence upwardly through the housing and out through the extension alongside the open end of the steam inlet line, the said extension being considerably smaller in diameter than the housing whereby to form a relatively restricted space around the exhaust ends of the steam inlet and discharge lines.

10. In a steam separator, a vertically elongated housing having an upward angularly projected extension, a steam inlet line leading up through the housing and opening near the upper extremity of said extension, and a steam discharge line adapted to pick up steam from a medial point in the housing lead it back down and thence upwardly through the housing and out through the extension alongside the open end of the steam inlet line, the said extension .being considerably smaller in diameter than the housing whereby to form a relatively restricted space around the exhaust ends of the steam inlet and discharge lines, and a super-heating coil formed in the said steam discharge line within the housing.

11. In a steam separator, an elongated housing disposed vertically, an upward and angular extension on the housing, a steam inlet line leading into the bottom of the housing and extending upwardly therein to the upper end of the said extension, a valve line communicating with the housing near the upper end thereof and passing through the housing near the bottom thereof, and a steam discharge line connected to the lower end of the valve line and extending upwardly through the housing and out through the upper end of the extension.

WILLIAM L. KISLING. 

